True or False: Even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation

I know we want to think of sin in degrees, and that’s because the Bible does talk about the different ways that different sins impact our lives. But, the fact that the Bible points out the different ways that different types of sin impact life, doesn’t negate that the Bible speaks clearly about the impact that any and every sin has on mankind as he relates to God.

The Bible clearly teaches that any and every sin condemns a man before God.

James 2:8-13

[8] If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. [9] But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. [10] For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. [11] For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. [12] So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. [13] For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

All of humanity is cursed with sin because of Adam’s disobedience.

Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:1-6

Genesis 2:15-17

[15] The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. [16] And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, [17] but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 3:1-6

[1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” [2] And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, [3] but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” [4] But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. [5] For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

People sin because of they are stained with sin, it’s their nature because of the fall.

Sin results in spiritual and physical death.

Romans 6:23, Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:1-6

Romans 6:23

[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sin separates mankind from God.

Isaiah 59:1-2

[1] Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; [2] but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

The nature of our relationship with God in the Garden of Eden was lost because of sin.

Good actions do not remove the curse and judgment of sin.

One, seemingly, small sin condemns a man because every sin is against God.

God is holy and just.

1 Samuel 2:2

[2] “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

Deuteronomy 32:4

[4] “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice.A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Every sin is ultimately committed against God.

Psalm 51:3-4

[3] For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. [4] Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Because of His holiness and justice God does not overlook any sin.

Even though it may seem like God doesn’t act or do anything about all sin… Scripture teaches us that God has appointed a day in which he will judge everyone who has lived for his or her sin.

Acts 17:29-31

[29] Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. [30] The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

The promise of God’s judgment and justice is connected to the resurrection of Jesus of Christ.

Last week was Easter, and in our sermon on Easter we pointed out that all of God’s promises depend on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And, this is true not just for the promise of salvation, it is also true for the promise of judgment.

The assurance of God’s justice and judgement of sin is in Jesus Christ.

As Acts 17:31 God has appointed a man who will judge the world in his righteousness, and as he says “he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

One righteous act by God justifies all who by faith believe in Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:21-26

[21] But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—[22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:21-26 teaches us two things the crucifixion reveals about God.

The crucifixion of Jesus reveals that God is righteous and just.

Romans 3:26

[26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

The crucifixion of Jesus reveals God’s gracious plan to redeem sinners from the curse.

Romans 3:23-25

[23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

Just as sin came into the world through one man, salvation has come to the world through Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:12-21

[12] Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—[13] for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. [14] Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. [15] But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. [16] And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. [17] For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. [18] Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. [19] For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. [20] Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, [21] so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The gift of God’s grace is greater than the sin of Adam.

Romans 5:15-16

[15] But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. [16] And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

What about the sin that God won’t forgive, the unpardonable sin?

Matthew 12:30-32

[30] Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. [31] Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. [32] And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

1 John 5:16-17

[16] If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. [17] All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

The unpardonable, or unforgivable sin, is the full rejection of Jesus.

This is to reject the truth of Christ as revealed through the work of the Holy Spirit.. and why it’s referred to as blaspheming the Holy Spirit. This is when we say that what is from the spirit isn’t true, and we take what isn’t from the Spirit and say that it is.

No person is too bad a sinner to be saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Forgiveness, Justification, and Salvation are the work of God’s grace and are for everyone who believes by faith in Jesus, other than rejecting Jesus, no one is too bad a sinner to be saved.

It’s true that even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation.

And with this truth, it means that every single person is need of a Savior, and we can praise God that He has made a way for even the worst of us to be saved.

What then must we do to be saved?

The Bible says to repent of your sin, believe in Jesus and that He was raised from the dead, confess Jesus as Lord by committing to live your whole life for Him.

Acts 2:37-38

[37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” [38] And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Even as the Gospel continues to go out, Paul continues with the message:

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). And again to the Romans he says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

What do we do with our life after we are saved?

We devote ourselves to knowing and obeying the Bible, loving and serving one another as a church, remembering and praying the gospel, and sharing the gospel and multiplying disciples.

Acts 2:42-47

[42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Matthew 28:16-20

[16] Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. [17] And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. [18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

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